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The Netherlands' Hema targets further UK expansion

Retailer Hema is eyeing further expansion in the UK. Four years after entering the UK market, the retailer has seen potential for up to 75 branches, according to British newspaper The Daily Telegraph.

Hema UK storefront - Photo: HemaThe retailer currently operates eight stores, located in London, Kent, Surrey, Essex and Birmingham. At the moment, four Hema branches are in based in London, the area where Hema CEO Tjeerd Jegen sees the most growth potential, of 35 to 50 stores to be exact. In other UK cities, Jegen wants to see a total of at least 25 Hema branches, the executive told the newspaper.

Hema entered the UK market in 2014 and in November 2017, unveiled a 350 m2 flagship store at London’s Tottenham Court Road. At the time of the flagship opening, Richard Flint, international director and Hema management team member, said: “International expansion is an important part of our growth strategy. We see big opportunities for growth in the UK and especially in London. Our strategy will primarily focus on establishing a presence of several Hema stores per city and we are particularly excited by this store, which will now be our flagship in the UK.”

The UK branches are part of the retailer’s focus on international expansion. Hema opened its first international branch in 1984 in Belgium, followed by Germany and Luxembourg two decades later. In 2014, the retailer announced an expansion to the UK and Spain. This year, Hema will further expand outside of Europe by openings its first Middle East store in Dubai.

Founded in 1926, the Dutch retailer is known for offering a wide range of its own-brand products and services. These range from apparel and beauty to food and home products. The retailer is currently present in eight countries.

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